Selected quad for the lemma: state_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
state_n	great_a	king_n	secretary_n	1,238	5	9.7864	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51903	The eighth and last volume of letters writ by a Turkish spy who lived five and forty years undiscover'd at Paris : giving an impartial account to the Divan at Constantinople of the most remarkable transactions of Europe, and discovering several intrigues and secrets of the Christian courts (especially of that of France) continued from the year 1642 to the year 1682 / written originally in Arabick, translated into Italian, and from thence into English, by the translator of the first volume.	Marana, Giovanni Paolo, 1642-1693.; Bradshaw, William, fl. 1700.; Midgley, Robert, 1655?-1723.	1694 (1694)	Wing M565EA; ESTC R35024	164,847	384

greatest Office and Dignity in the Kingdom next to that of the Soveraignty it self Others were made Marshals Dukes and Peers of France Generals of the French Armies Vice-Roys of Tributary Provinces and Kingdoms All the Scots in general were had in high Honour and Esteem at the French Court and enjoy'd the same Rights and Immunities as the very Natives themselves by the special Grant of Henry II. But with this Condition that they should persevere in their Fidelity and Friendship to the French And that the French who dwelt in any Part of Scotland should enjoy the same Rights and Privileges as the Natives of the Country The Parliament of Paris subscrib'd to this Grant and it was confirm'd by Henry IV. about the year 1599. Likewise Charles XI confirmed to the Scotch Merchants all those Privileges and Immunities which their Ancestors had enjoy'd That they should be free from all Exactions Imposts and Customs which are usually paid for Merchandises As to the Original Rise of the Scotch Guards about the French King's Person I will tell thee as briefly as I can Louis who acquir'd the Title of Saint for Warring in Person against the Mussulmans when he march'd towards Palestine appointed Four and Twenty Scotch Soldiers to have the Guard of his Person Night and Day Charles V. augmented their Number to Seventy Six yet still reserving this Honour for the First Four and Twenty That they should have the Command of the Rest Thus the Custody of the King's Body remain'd with the Scots for the space of Seventy Years and upwards But Charles VII being willing to oblige the French appointed a Guard of them to be about his Person under one Standard Lewis X. added another Standard and Francis I. adjoyned a Third Yet without entrenching on the Prerogatives of the Twenty Four Scots which they still enjoy'd by Right of Antiquity and Prescription as also by the Sanction of St. Louis for whom the French profess a great Veneration These Twenty Four Scots kept the Keys of the Royal Palace after Sun-set They alone guarded the King when he was in the Temple at Mass They alone carried the King when the Laws of the Land and the Ceremonies of State requir'd him to be carried on Men's Shoulders They guarded the Ships when the King went by Water And to them were the Keys of every Town deliverd through which the King pass'd in his Travels by Land with many other singular Honours But after the Death of Henry II. when the Eurl of Montgomery the last Commander of the Scotch Guards was remov'd from his Office and a French Officer plac'd over them in his stead that Command always fell into the Hands of French-men who by degrees substituting those of their own Nation in the Room of the Scots who died it came to pass at length that there remain'd but a very few Scots in the Guards and those were bereft of all their ancient Privileges Pardon this tedious Digression Great Patriarch of the Faithful since it contains some curious Memoirs in it and I naturally fell into it by speaking of the Scots who are very Numerous in Paris to this Day and from whom I learn'd the foregoing Character of their Murder'd Archbishop who was the Prime Patriarch of all the Land his Ordinary Title being Archbishop of St. Andrews This great and highest Ecclesiastical Dignity was given him by the present King of England at his Return from a Twelve Years Exile as a Debt to his Great Abilities and a Reward of his Merits and Services in labouring might and main to effect the King's Restauration From the Moment that he acquir'd this Honour such as were equally Enemies to the Government of King's and Bishops persecuted him with Slanders and Invectives The Streets swarm'd with Libels against him and Mens Tongues were as busie as their Pens in Railing at him because he was resolved to endeavour his utmost that Episcopacy might be restor'd in Scotland as it was in England though it had been subverted in both Nations during the Vsurpation of Oliver the Tyrant 'T was this drew upon him the Malice and Revenge of the Seditious and they spar'd not in Publick to threaten his Death Nay some Years before he was murder'd one of these Furioso's shot at him in the open Streets of Edinburgh but miss'd him Then the Seditious publish'd Libels wherein they gloried in the Attempt and were only sorry that it took not Effect They also Prophesied that he should die a Violent Death and it was easie for them to presage this which they were resolv'd to execute themselves Accordingly in the 3d. and 4th Moons of this Year they were ready to give the Fatal Blow but his Watchfulness prevented them However on the 3d. of the Moon of May as he was Travelling with his Eldest Daughter in his Coach with Two or Three Servants attending him he was set upon at Mid-day by Nine of these Religious Ruffians who having first wounded his beloved Daughter to enhaunce his dying Grief then hack'd and hew'd him in a Butcherly and Barbarous Manner till at length they left him Dead on the Spot Venerable Cadilesquer I pray God defend thee from Popular Envy Malice and Revenge from the Wounds given by the Pens of Libellers and the Tongues of the Spightful But above all I pray Heaven Guard thee from being Massacred by Religious Assassines and Bloody Zealots Paris 17th of the 9th Moon of the Year 1679. LETTER XI To Hebatolla Mir Argun Superior of the Derviches at Cogni in Natolia DOubltess there never was any Creature form'd of Flesh and Blood comparable to the Messias No Mortal like the Son of Mary Jesus was replenish'd with all the Natural Excellencies and Perfections of the Universe I am not so profane or presumptuous as to think or say any Thing in Contempt of Mahomot though I take the Liberty to Celebrate the high Praises of the WORD incarnate the First-Born and most Illustrious of all Beings on this Side the Eternal Father The Holy Ghost it self comes behind him When the Everlasting Intellect had from Indeterminate Ages lain dreaming on the soft and downy Bed of CHAOS or the First Matter In the Grand Cabin of uncircumcised Darkness and envelop'd with the shady Curtains of Old Old NIGHT When he had tumbl'd toss'd and rowl'd from side to side When he had stretch'd his Endless Limbs for Ease to seek one Corner of the Infinite Expanse where he might abate the Sempiternal Heat of Love At last he fix'd his Foot upon the cool Idea of this World of ours Then sprang the WORD from the allfertile WOMB The Melancholy sad Abyss rejoyc'd for in the WORD was Light and Life which darting through the Eternal Heap of Sluggish and unactive MATTER with Divine Chymistry first drew an Extract of the purest Parts which form'd the Firmament Next rose the Sun the Moon and Stars and then the grosser Elements with all their different Productions These are the Generations of the Universe when God made

Routed and Overcome After which the Roman King caused the Traytor Metius Tufetius to be tied with Cords to Two Chariots and torn in Pieces by Wild Horses He also ruin'd and quite demolish'd Alba not looking on that City now as the Parent but the Rival of Rome However he first transported to Rome all the Riches of Alba with the Inhabitants that so that City might not seem to perish but only to remove its Situation and be Incorporated with Rome Ancus Marcius succeeded Tullus Hostilius being the Grandchild of Numa by his Daughter He inherited his Qualities also as well as his Blood He encompass'd the City with Walls and joyn'd the Banks of Tyber which ran through the Middle of it with a Bridge He likewise built the Port Ostia just by the Mouth of the River where it flows into the Sea planting there a Colony of Romans as if he had then Presag'd what afterwards came to pass That the Merchandizes of the World should be brought in thither as into the Maritime Store-house of the City destin'd to conquer all Things Him succeeded Tarquinius afterwards surnam'd Priscus He was of Foreign Extraction yet obtain'd the Sovereignty by his Elegance and Wit For being the Son of Lucumo a Corinthian who abandon'd his Country and fled into Toscany where he was made King this Tarquinius polishing his Greek Nature with Italian Arts insinuated so far with the Romans that they chose him for their King He augmented the Number of Senators and added Three Hundred Soldiers to the Troops that were already establish'd Which was all he durst do in Regard Attius Navius an Augur in High Request among the Romans had forbid any greater Number to be added These Augurs were a sort of Diviners who foretold Things to come from the Chirping Flying Feeding and other Actions of Birds Tarquinius one Day ask'd this Attius Navius Whether the Thing could possibly be done which he had then thought upon The Augur consulting his Art answer'd It might be done Then said the King I was considering whether I could cut this Whet-stone with a Razor Yes you may replied Attius And the King did it From that Time the College of Augurs first Founded by Romulus was had in Sacred Esteem by the Romans I should have call'd them the Triumvirate of Augurs for there were but Three at first one out of every Tribe But Servius Tullius the next King added a Fourth These were all Nobles But afterwards they were increas'd to Nine and last of all to Fifteen in the Dictatorship of Silla To return to Tarquinius He was no less prosperous in War than in Peace for he subdued Twelve Cities of the Toscans with the Territories belonging to them He invented Robes and Ensigns of State the Ivory-Seats of Chariots wherein the Senators were carried to the Council the Gold-Rings and Magnificent Horse-Trappings which were given to the Roman Knights as Badges of Honour Also the Purple and Scarlet-Robes the Triumphal Chariot of Gold the Painted Phrygian Robe worn by a Victorious General when he celebrated a Triumph With many other Ornaments and Publick Decorations to set forth the Majesty and Grandeur of the Roman State Tarquinius being mortally wounded his Wife Tanaquil persuaded the People that all was well with him that his Wounds were not dangerous that he was only laid in a Slumber and that in a little Time they should fee him Well again In the Mean while she said it was his Will and Pleasure that they should obey Servius Tullius a Favourite of hers who would administer Justice and govern the People wisely during the King's Illness This Servius Tullius was the Son of a Prince in Latium who being kill'd in a Battel with the Romans his Wife was carried Captive to Rome and being presented to Queen Tanaquil liv'd free from Servitude under her Protection And being with Child was deliver'd of Servius Tullius in Tanaquil's Palace The Queen stook a Singular Fancy to the Noble Infant and gave him Royal Education presaging from a Flame which she saw environing his Head that he would be a Famous Man in Time 'T was for this Reason she persuaded the People to receive him as the King's Substitute or Deputy for a While Not doubting but that after they had tasted the Sweetness of his Government and the Death of Tarquin should be known they would easily submit to him as Tarquin's Successor Her Stratagem had its desir'd Effect For Servius Tullius improv'd his Time so well in pleasing the People that the Kingdom which he obtain'd by Craft was acknowledg'd by all as due to his Merits and Vertues He first brought the People of Rome under an Assessment whereby every Man's Estate was valu'd He divided them into Classes Wards and Colleges And the Commonwealth was brought into such Order by the Exquisite Policy of this Wise King that the Difference of every Man's Patrimony Dignity Age Trade and Office was Register'd in Publick Tables Which render'd the Oeconomy of this Great State as regular and easie as that of a Private Family or House The Last of all the Kings was Tarquinius Surnam'd The Proud for the Morose and Disdainful Haughtiness of his Temper He married the Daughter of Servius Tullius in Hopes of Succeeding in the Kingdom But he not having Patience to wait for the Natural Death of his Father-in-Law hired Ruffians to Murder him and then seiz'd upon the Kingdom by Violence Neither did he govern the State with less Wickedness and Cruelty than that by which he obtain'd it For he denied Burial to his Murder'd Father-in-Law Saying That he deserv'd not Better Vsage than Romulus who perish'd without a Sepulchre He also slew the Chiefs of the Nobles whom he suspected to be of Servius's Interest And his Wife Tullia was as bad as he For as soon as she had saluted her Husband by the Title of King she caus'd her self to be driven in a Chariot over the Dead Carcase of her Father Both of them exercis'd Great Cruelty and massacred many of the Senators But the Pride of Tarquin was intolerable to all Till at Length when he had spent enough of his Rage at Home he turn'd it against his Foreign Enemies Abroad and took many Strong Towns in Latium However Notwithstanding all his Vices he gave the World this Proof of his Piety That put of the Spoils which he took from his Enemies he rais'd Mony and finish'd therewith the Temple of Jupiter in the Capitol which his Father Tarquinius Priscus had begun The Story says That as they were Laying the Foundations of this Temple they found the Head of a Man which they interpreted as a Good Omen That Rome should be the Seat of a Vast Empire and Mistress of the whole Earth as it afterwards came to pass The People of Rome bore with the Pride of Tarquin but would not bear with the Lust and Tyranny of his Sons one of which ravish'd Lucretia a Woman of Admirable Beauty and Vertue The Chaste Matron expiated the Disgrace by

the Scotch Privileges in France XI To Hebatolla Mir Argun Superior of the Derviches at Cogni in Natolia Page 197 A Panegyrick on the Messias XII To Kerker Hassan Bassa Page 202 He gives him a Character of Charles II. King of England Glances upon the Popish Plot And proves that some part of America was Planted by the Welsh XIII To the most Magnanimous and Invincible Vizir Azem Page 207 Of a Match between the King of Spain and the Daughter of France also of another in Agitation between the Dauphin of France and the Duke of Bavaria's Sister XIV To the Venerable Mufti Page 212 He begins his Epitome of the Roman History which he formerly promised XV. To William Vospel a Recluse of Austria Page 219 He gives him a short Account of his Religion XVI To Murat Bassa Page 224 Of the Marriage of the Dauphin of France with the Princess Anne Marie Victorie Sister to the Duke of Bavaria BOOK IV. LETTER I. TO Hamet Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire Page 227 He gives him an Account of Geneva with a short History of the War of this Republick with the Dukes of Savoy II. To Achmet Bassa Page 234 Of the French Huguenots and the Methods which the King took at that Time to Convert them III. To the Venerable Mufti Page 240 He proceeds in the Roman History to the Abolishing the Kingly Government IV. To Orchan Cabet Student in the Sciences and Pensioner to the Sultan Page 248 He entertains him with a Discourse of the Soul and its Separate State after Death From whence he falls into a pleasant Vein of Bantering V. To Hamet Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire Page 257 He gives him an Account of the Republick of Venice with the Manner of Electing their Doge or Duke VI. To Osman Adrooneth Page 268 He informs him of a New Comet appearing in Europe From whence he Discourses of Comets in General and of the great Vncertainty there is among Astronomers VII To the Venerable Mufti Page 278 He continues the Roman History to the Decline of that Empire VIII To Dgnet Oglou Page 288 He acquaints him with a Quarrel he had in the Midst of Wine and Mirth with a French Priest on the Account of Astrology and Comets IX To Hamet Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire Page 293 He discourses of Candia and Genoua X. To Dgnet Oglou Page 302 Of the Vanity and Deceitfulness of Astrology XI To Ibro Kalphaser Effendi a Man of Letters at Constantinople Page 313 He congratulates his Honour in being chosen by the Mufti to oversee the defign'd Universal History of the World sends him a Box of Manuscripts with a Model of the whole Work XII To the Wisest of the Wise the Key of the Treasures of Knowledge the Venerable Mufti Page 323 He accuses the Chronolngy of the Jews and Christians Discourses of the Egyptian Assyrian Indian and Chinese Records asserting That the Deluge of Noah was not Vniversal XIII To Cara Hali Physician in Ordinary to the Grand Signior Page 330 He acquaints him with his Maladies and Infirmities begging his Advice and Help XIV To Abdel Melec Muli Omar President of the College of Sciences at Fez. Page 336 Of the Causes of the different Colour in Blacks and Whites He proves that they cannot both be the Descendants of Adam but of a different Species Of a Ship found in a Mine in Switzerland fifty Fathom deep and of a Whirl-Pool in Moscovy forty Miles in Compass which swallows up Ships and whatever else comes near it XV. To the Kaimacham Page 342 Of the Discovery of a vast Number of Sorcerers and Magicians in France with the Diabolical Arts practised by them in poysoning bewitching c. With the King of France's Method of punishing them XVI To Nathan Ben Saddi a Jew at Vienna Page 348 Of the Apprehensions he is in because of a Letter from him writ by another Hand Of Count Tecli and the Hungarian League He highly extols Carcoa's Journal XVII To the Kaimacham Page 352 He tells him that he sent a particular Messenger to Vienna with a Letter to Nathan Ben Saddi and that he was not to be found With his Jealousies thereupon XVIII To Dgnet Oglou Page 355 He tells him plainly that he fears Nathan Ben Saddi is made away by some Order from the Port and that if so he himself is likely to be made a Sacrifice after the same Manner And therefore desires him to be Watchful on his Account and Pry into the Secrets of the Divan LETTERS Writ by A Spy at PARIS VOL. VIII BOOK I. LETTER I. Mahmut the Arabian at Paris to Mehemet an Exil'd Eunuch at Grand Caire in Egypt WHether it be an Effect of thy Melancholy Letter or of my own ugly Constitution I know not but I am lately grown very Desperate and resolv'd upon Death I am tir'd with whatsoever I have yet enjoy'd in this World and I expect no greater satisfaction should I live a Thousand Years Every Pleasure appears but the same in different Forms and they all agree in leaving us afflicted with the same or greater Pain than they found us in Which is a sufficient Argument to a Man of Spirit that he ought to die in pursuit of his own Ease We walk here on Earth in an Enchanted Circle of Shadows and Mockeries Our whole Life is full of Vanity and Mistake Every Man's Fortune is but a Repetition of Ixion's We court Clouds instead of Divinities and our most charming Fruitions consist in Emptiness Indeed all this Visible World is but a Mighty Pageant a Pompous Emblem a Gaudy Type of that Invisible Region which is the Mother of Spirits Oh! that it were lawful for a Mortal to release his Soul from its long irksom Exile here Below and send it Home to its Native Country the Kingdom of Divine Ideas Then wou'd I soon launch forth into the unknown Abyss But we must be resign'd and not think much to bear our several Destinies and patiently wait for the appointed Hour of Transmigration For it is in vain to think of hastning or delaying our Fate Besides for ought we know the next Station may be worse than this Every thing is full of Mysterious Darkness And therefore prithee Mehemet let thou and I lay aside all fruitless Care and Sadness be as merry as will consist with the Wisdom of a Man and when thou findest this black Distemper approaching thee run away from it and shelter thy self in good Company Arm thy self with Wine and Musick against the sullen Daemon of Melancholy But I counsel thee to avoid Women for they 'l but encrease thy Malady 'T is one of that Sex has given me this fit of Grief a Woman that I have loved too much But she 's Ingrateful False and Cruel she takes a singular delight in cheating me with false shews of Love and Friendship and then in undeceiving me again The same Tongue which at some times will

whom I might insinuate on the score of Skill in translating Greek Sclavonick Arabick and other Eastern Languages Osmin the Dwarf is also Dead from whom I us'd to learn many Secrets Fate has also snatch'd away several Courtiers with whom I had intimate Converse Add to this that Eliachim grows Old and Crazy who was once as my Right Hand So prompt and dextrous in any Business of Difficulty Faithful also as my own Heart which never was tainted with the least Symptom of Disloyalty So that all things consider'd I cannot see what the Sublime Ministers can propose in retaining me at Paris I do not desire as formerly to travel into India or any other Region of the East I do not so much as Covet to see my own Native Country for which I have had such passionate Longings No every Place will be Arabia to me where I may rest from Businesses of State and shut up my latter Days in Quietness It is Time for me to bid Adieu to the Active Life and betake my self wholly to Contemplation I would fain abandon not only the actual Vanities of this fading World but the very remembrance and thoughts of them My Mind is nauseated with the Idea's of past Folly which Men falsly call Pleasure And I find no gust in any thing but the Meditation of Death and the unknown State of departed Souls All other Things are uncertain Toys and empty Trifles But that great change which no Mortal hath ever yet escap'd is stable permanent and fix'd by Destiny Fate has set the Period which winds up the Epocha of every Mans Life in this visible State and begins a new Hejira whereof we have no Computation in regard we have no Correspondence with that unknown World Neither are there any certain Histories extant which can rightly inform us The Flight of the Soul from the Body begins the Mysterious Date but where or when it will end is not known to us that stay behind This therefore alone is worthy of an Old Man's Thoughts how to prepare himself for Death since he cannot protract the Term of his Life beyond the Moment allotted by Heaven Neither can he be assur'd what will become of him afterwards Think not Serene Bassa that I am going to lay a Train for the Reputation of a Saint or wou'd set up all on a sudden for an extraordinary Pious Man No there 's nothing of that in 't I hate the rigid Hypocrisie of forc'd Penance and the Religious Lunacy of those who never think they do enough to atone for their Sins unless they outdo Humanity it self in their cruel Mortifications These are Monsters in all good Divinity and their Example is not to be followed What I aim at in this Discourse is That as according to the Order of Nature and Will of Destiny we are born Men so we should take care to Live and Die And if we have suffer'd the former part of our Life to elapse without due Reflection on so important a Truth 't is but Reason that when we approach near the Grave when all our Senses Faculties and Members do the part of King Philip's Page putting us daily and hourly in Mind of our Mortality 'T is but Reason I say that then we should begin to recollect our selves and to think whereabouts we are that we may not be surprized by the Inevitable Decree of Fate when it comes to be put in Execution nor die less than our selves Besides there is another advantage in being thus prepar'd for the last things since it equally arms us against all intermediate Calamities supposing we shou'd live longer than we reckon He that can boldly stare Death in the Face will not easily turn his Back upon any Misfortune of this Inconstant Life But receiving all things with an even Temper renders himself happy in the midst of Troubles Losses Disgraces Pains Sicknesses and other Casualties which assault all that live on Earth Magnificent Bassa all that I have said is but a Prologue to my main purpose which is to desire thy Mediation with the First Vizier that I may be recall'd from an Employment wherein I cannot be so serviceable as I have been and which at the same Time by imposing on me a Thousand Cares takes from me the possibility of preparing as I ought to do for that Transmigration which in a little Time I must pass through In a Word Right Noble Kerker I desire the Priviledge to end my Days in Constantinople among the Moselmans under the Venerable Shade of Mosks and Minarets consecrated to the Service and Honour of the Eternal Vnity Let me not have worse Usage than the ancient Roman Souldiers had who when they had served in the Wars such a certain number of Years were discharg'd with an Honourable Pension This is all the Favour I request who have serv'd the Grand Signior faithfully and with Success these Eight and Thirty Years in a Country of Infidels But if my Superiors shall determine otherwise I am resign'd to their Pleasure and to the Will of Destiny Paris 22d of the 6th Moon of the Year 1674. LETTER VII To Ali Rustan Begh Serasquier in Dalmatia THou shalt hear how a famous Christian General the Mareschal de Turenne deported himself when he was lately challeng'd to a single Combat by the Prince Palatine of the Rhine It seems this later has been a great Sufferer by the present War between France and the Confederate Princes for his Country lying near the Rhine was expos'd to both Parties and the French first enter'd it There were some English Troops in the French Army who had conceiv'd an Implacable Revenge against the Subjects of the Palatine in regard many of their Comrades had been barbarously handled by them Wherefore they made great Devastation where-ever they came burnt Five and Twenty great Villages to the Ground and Five small Cities In a word they quite ruin'd in Fifteen Days Time the whole Country which is esteem'd the most pleasant and agreeable Part of Europe This put the Elector all in Choler and he wrote a sharp Letter to the Mareschal Turenne threatning him in a furious Manner and bidding him chuse the Place where he might fight with him in single Duel But the Sage Mareschal retaining his usual Moderation and not at all mov'd at the Palatines Letter answer'd it in these or the like Terms That the Proceedings of the English Regiments were without his Order or Approbation That he was infinitely troubled at the Violences which had been committed and that the chief Anthors had been punish'd Nevertheless he could not but Declare That the cruel Treatment which the English had met with had so exasperated their Companions that it was no wonder to see them execute their Revenge even on the very Inanimate Things And that in the first heat and transport of their Fury they had not leisure to examine who were guilty and who not He added likewise That if the Post which the King his Master had appointed him would

Letter I know not what to think of it 'T was very odd thus to leave me in the Dark and thou canst not blame me If in this Obscurity I stumble upon Suspicious Thoughts I am not Jealous of thy Fideli●y though such a Conduct as this would make a Man fear the worst But I rather apprehend the Effect of thy Credulity and Negligence In a Word I am afraid lest some prying busy-Body has got a Glimpse of our Secret Business and mutual Intelligence and so put this Trick upon me in thy Name to see what Answer I will make which they may think easie to do by intercepting the Letters which are address'd to thee by the Post To prevent which I send this by a Private Messenger We cannot be too cautious in such Cases where one false Step betrays all and lays our Designs open to the World I conjure thee to be very plain and particular in thy next satisfie me in all things For I am very anxious at present My Mind is full of Thorns and Briars I shall not write to any of the Sublime Ministers till I have thy Answer by the same Messenger I send Therefore dispatch him with Expedition As to Count Tecli's Business if this Information be really thy own and not sent by some sly Interloper I like the Project well enough and will communicate it to the Grand V●●ir or the Kaimacham without taking Notice of thy Overlight in putting me to this Fright and Trouble The Count has a good Character among the French who are no Friends to the House of Aust●ia or Ennemies to the Grand Signior This is certain New Spirits must be rais'd in the Room of those who are taken away For Conspiracies of this Nature must not be given over upon every Discouragement Care must be taken that the Hungarian Faction be constantly supply'd with fresh and active Heads like the Hydra as fast as the Old ones are cut off And I know not where they cou'd have pitch'd upon a more likely Man than Count Tecli He comes of a good Parentage and his Ancestors were all along Patriots and Sticklers for their Country Liberties They ever oppos'd the Tyrannous Encroachments of the House of Austria Carcoa's Journal relates many remarkable Passages of the Tecli's whose Castle he says was the usual Rendezvouz of all the Malecontent Lords in those Parts who were weary of the German Yoke There they caball'd and held their Private Consults There they hatch'd their Plots against the Emperour I read this Journal daily finding no small Pleasure in it and Abundance of Profit For it contains Select Memoirs of divers curious Transactions and Events that happen'd both in Publick and Private during his Residence at Vienna And I take the greater Delight in reading him because his Style is very short yet comprehensive familiar also and free without Impertinences or Solecisms He gives one not the Fatigue of dwelling long upon a Period to hammer out the Sense of Attentive Study But he couches his Words like a. Train of Gunpowder which is no sooner lighted at one End but in an Instant the other catches the Flame So you can hardly cast your Eyes on Three Words at the Beginning of a Paragraph or Sentence in Carcoa's Journal but you anticipate his Scope in all the Rest This argues a great Se●●●ity of Spirit in the Author and An Elegance not to be met with but in a Mind void of Clouds Besides he relates no Trivial Matters or Tales fit only for Women and Boys But he treats altogether of Weighty and Important Affairs Intriegues of State Remarkable Strokes of War Subtle Overtures of Peace Which he gracefully intermixes with Parallels of History with Characters and Descriptions of Countries and their Inhabitants And finally with Philosophical Moral and Political Remarks All very agreeable and pleasant Nathan I counsel thee to imitate his Example and leave some Memorial behind thee of thy Industry and Vertue To this End apply thy self at Spare Hours to reading but be sure use Caution in the Choice of Books else 't is but Time mis-spent Be curious in Searching out the most excellent Treatises For vain and trifling Subjects are fit only for the Fire Have a special Regard to the Credit of such Historians as fall in your Way bestow not a Moment on those that are not Authentick left Old Time call thee to an Account for the Waste Then accustom thy Pen to make Epitomes Abstracts and Collections out of what thou readest and learn to be nice and cleanly in thy Language A squalid Style turns the Stomach of a Reader whereas Polite Expressions whet his Appetite and cause him to devour whole Volumes with a Gust After all I bid thee farewell and advise thee not to neglect the Grand Signior's Business but mind the main Chance Paris 5th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1682. LETTER XVII To the Kaimacham I Shall now acquaint thee with an Accident which extremely surpriz'd me when I first heard of it and has still left me in Confusion About Seven Weeks are past since I receiv'd a Letter dated as from Vienna which Nathan Ben Saddi subscrib'd but I presently perceiv'd it was not his own Hand-writing which made me very uneasie and full of Careful Thoughts For it contain'd Matters of Importance Secrets of the Hungarian League with a Particular Project relating to Count Tecli a great Lord in that Country I consider'd that if the Letter were writ with Nathan's Knowledg and by his Order he cou'd not be so forgetful as not to bid the Scribe whoever he was give me an Account of the Reasons which hindred him from Writing to me himself For he must needs imagine I shou'd be troubled and in no small Astonishment to find Matters of that dangerous Consequence addressed to me in an unknown Hand under his Name Or else I thought he took me for a Man that made no Reflections on things I knew not well what to conclude amidst so many probable Uncertainties However I was resolv'd to act more securely and with greater Caution on my Side in Order to a Right Information in this Mystery Wherefore not daring to trust the Posts I dispatch'd away a Private Courier to Vienna One in whom I can confide with ample Instructions and a Letter to Nathan Ben Saddi Wherein among other Things I desir'd him to tell me the Meaning of this Conduct My Messenger is honestly and safely returned again to Paris but no Nathan Ben Saddi to be heard of All the Account he cou'd learn of him was that about Eight Weeks ago he went out of his House with a Stranger who pretended Business with him at the Burse or Exchange But neither he nor the Stranger have been seen or heard of since only they said that a Day or Two after Nathan was missing there was the Dead Body of a Man seen floating in an Eddy of the Danube hard by the Bridge but the Face was so mangled and disfigured with Wounds and Slashes that